Posture and Body Mechanics

When a client sits in a chair with poor posture for a prolonged period, they may suffer acute stress on their neck and lower back. They may also suffer stress from poor body mechanics when lifting and transporting heavy objects, reaching above the head and below the waist, and twisting the spine in awkward positions. These acute stresses can become chronic if they're not corrected. Here are 4 reasons why it is important to teach proper posture and body mechanics to clients:

·      PROTECT THE SPINE – Proper alignment at the spine will protect the intervertebral disc from excessive compression. If the discs begin to bulge, this may compress the spinal nerves and cause chronic pain.

·      MAINTAIN BALANCED MUSCLE TONE – Poor posture can cause imbalances in muscle tone at a joint, causing one muscle to be shortened and the opposing muscle to be lengthened.

·      ADEQUATE STRENGTH, LESS EFFORT – Lifting an object with poor body mechanics may cause unnecessary overexertion. For instance, if you squat to pick up a box that’s an arm's length away on the floor, you exert more energy to lift the box because it is further away. You can lift the box with less effort if you position your feet at the sides of the box, squat to the box, and lift upwards using the leg muscles.

·      INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY IN OCCUPATION – Poor posture and body mechanics may cause severe pain and weakness over time. This may cause guarding of movements, limiting the range of motion (ROM). All of these factors can affect productivity in occupation. For example, cleaning may involve reaching above the head. If a person has limited ROM at the shoulder, they may use compensatory movements to complete the task.

There are many ways to teach these principles to clients. You can provide techniques and cues to teach proper posture and body mechanics. For example, the slouch-overcorrect technique can be taught to a client to correct sitting posture while at a computer. This technique can be completed daily in many settings. The therapist can also teach clients how to recognize cues for bad posture. A notable cue is pain. You can instruct clients to check for proper body alignment and movement when experiencing pain.

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